Global burden of subarachnoid hemorrhage among adolescents and young adults aged 15–39 years: A trend analysis study from 1990 to 2021

Objective This study aims to analyze the global burden of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) aged 15–39 years from 1990 to 2021, highlighting spatial and temporal trends and providing insights for future public health strategies. Methods Data were collected from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021), which includes comprehensive evaluations of health conditions and associated risk factors across 204 countries and territories. The focus was on SAH incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) among AYAs. The data were segmented by age groups (15–19, 20–24, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39 years) and socio-demographic index (SDI) quintiles. Statistical analyses, including Joinpoint regression and decomposition analysis, were employed to assess temporal trends and the impact of population growth, aging, and epidemiological changes. Results From 1990 to 2021, the global number of SAH incident cases among AYAs increased by 12.6%, from 109,120 cases in 1990 to 122,822 cases in 2021. Prevalent cases rose by 17.1%, from 1,212,170 cases in 1990 to 1,419,127 cases in 2021. Conversely, the number of deaths decreased by approximately 26.6%, from 30,348 cases in 1990 to 22,266 cases in 2021. Similarly, DALYs decreased by 23.7%, from 1,996,041 cases in 1990 to 1,523,328 cases in 2021. Notably, over these thirty years, the age-standardized rates (ASR) of incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs for the AYA population showed an overall decreasing trend, despite fluctuations in specific periods. The age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age-standardized DALYs (ASR for DALYs) decreased continuously with an average annual percentage change (AAPC) of -2.2% (95% CI: -2.36, -2.04) and -2.02% (95% CI: -2.17, -1.88), respectively. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) had an AAPC of -0.8% (95% CI: -0.85, -0.75) and -0.65% (95% CI: -0.66, -0.64), respectively. Particularly, the ASIR showed a continuous decline from 1990 to 2015, followed by a slight increase from 2014 to 2019 (APC: 0.14%, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.25), and accelerated growth from 2019 to 2021 (APC: 1.23%, 95% CI: 0.88, 1.57). The ASPR declined from 1990 to 2019, followed by an increase from 2019 to 2021 (APC: 0.15%, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.25). Regional analysis revealed substantial burdens in the Middle-SDI and Low-Middle-SDI regions, with the Middle-SDI region having the highest incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs. Decomposition analysis indicated that population growth was the primary driver of increased SAH cases, while epidemiological changes contributed significantly to the decline in deaths and DALYs. Conclusion The findings underscore the need for targeted public health interventions, particularly in low and low-middle-SDI regions, to reduce the burden of SAH among AYAs. Improved healthcare resources, enhanced health education, and preventive strategies are crucial. This study provides valuable data to inform future public health policies and resource allocation, emphasizing the importance of addressing the unique challenges faced by AYAs.